RBI to issue Rs 20 notes featuring signature of governor Sanjay Malhotra

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has announced that it will soon release Rs 20 denomination banknotes in the Mahatma Gandhi (New) Series carrying the signature of the newly appointed Governor, Sanjay Malhotra. The design and security features of the notes will remain unchanged from those currently in circulation, with the only difference being the updated signature.

Sanjay Malhotra assumed office as the 26th Governor of the Reserve Bank of India on December 11, 2024, for a three-year term. The RBI clarified that all existing Rs 20 banknotes issued under previous governors will continue to be legal tender, news agency ANI reported.

As per the provisions of the RBI Act, 1934, all banknotes issued by the Reserve Bank, unless withdrawn from circulation, remain legal tender for payments and obligations across India. Additionally, Rs 1 notes issued by the Government of India also retain legal tender status.

Banknotes are printed at four currency presses. Two are operated by the Government of India through the Security Printing and Minting Corporation of India Ltd. (SPMCIL) in Nasik and Dewas, while the other two are managed by Bharatiya Reserve Bank Note Mudran Pvt. Ltd. (BRBNMPL), a wholly owned subsidiary of the RBI, located in Mysuru and Salboni.

Coin minting is carried out at four government-owned mints under SPMCIL, located in Mumbai, Hyderabad, Kolkata, and Noida. Coins are issued for circulation only through the Reserve Bank in accordance with Section 38 of the RBI Act.

For distribution of banknotes and coins, the RBI has authorised select scheduled banks to maintain currency chests. These chests function as storage and distribution centres on behalf of the RBI. As of February 28, 2025, there were 2,691 such currency chests across the country.